The Imperative of Sound Doctrine

Temple Baptist Church - 1-29-2012

1 Timothy 1:1-4; 3:15

Introduction:

A. I feel the need to go back to preaching through the books of the Bible on Sunday nights because of my age: knowing that I do not have many years left as I am now in my mid 60’s (no, don’t get excited for I am not quite ready to go yet!). There is so much scripture, so many books of the Bible that need to be expounded to God’s people in light of our times and it has taken me 2 years just to preach through Ephesians.

B. 1 Timothy is one of the Pastoral Epistles. Paul is writing to younger men of God to set in order the oversight, structure, and operation of the local church. Timothy was a convert of the Apostle Paul and Paul felt the need to disciple this young preacher. The key verse of 1 Timothy is found in chapter 3 and verse 15: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Most churches are out of God’s order; therefore, learning how to behave in the house of the Lord—which is the pillar and ground of the truth—is of the utmost importance.

C. God’s house is a house of doctrine. The devil has certain “devices” that destroy the knowledge of sound doctrine which ultimately destroys God’s children.

1. De-emphasizing Of Sound Doctrine - A tactic of the devil to bring about the ecumenical movement which teaches that where you go to church is not important as long as you profess to be saved. This form of doctrinal ignorance is leading to the rise of a one world church.

2. Demonizing Of Sound Doctrine – A tactic of the devil that portrays God’s men in a pharisaical light and the Bible believing local church as cultic. This form of doctrinal ignorance drives away those who listen to such tactics and opens wide the door for false teachers and preachers.

3. Dividing Of Sound Doctrine – A tactic of the devil to bring about division within the fundamental churches with the main cause of division coming through higher education.

D. In the beginnings of the early church, all of the believers followed the doctrine of the Apostles but Satan soon began to infiltrate and divide. We have come:

FROM:

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

TO:

Ephesians 4:3-6 Endeavouring (to exert oneself or to strive) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

E. There is a decline in the teaching of Bible doctrine in the churches today as many churches, pastors, and teachers shy away from it and go from “heart pricking” to “ear tickling.” To these, doctrine is neither important nor is it relevant to our day. I want to reiterate that sound doctrine is imperative! Sound doctrine is imperative to:


1. The stability of the local church - 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (If the church is not doctrinally correct, then it cannot be trusted. The Head of the church is Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ is the Word of God; therefore, if the Head and the Word are right, the local church can be trusted to be right also.)

2. The detection and rejection of the infiltration of false teachers - Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (God gives to the local church pastors who rightly divide the word of truth, feed the flock of God, and equip the saints to be able to discern false teaching. Theological “food poisoning” is a good term describing false doctrinal teaching. It brings joy to the pastor’s heart when his people can detect false statements.)

3. The spiritual well being of the believer - Colossians 2:6-8 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (One of the greatest accolades that can be given to the local church is that of a people who know what and why they believe. A knowledgeable people are both productive and protected. Too many churches are characterized by biblical ignorance. Paul often addressed the believers with the statement, “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren.”)

4. The biblical training of our children - Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (The Bible and doctrinal truth are essential to the spiritual upbringing of our children. Our children need to be taught the Word of God, not just entertained and the Bible taught must be right and the doctrine correct. I have seen people purposely confuse their children in order to show rebellion toward the preaching and teaching from the pulpit.)